Printer



R. J. MARING Jan. 1, 1963 PRINTER Filed Feb. 1, 1960 INVENTOR. ROBERT J. MARING r ATTORNE ZS 3,071,229 PEWTER Rehert .l'. Mat ing, Grand Rapids, Mich, assignor to Toledo Scale Corporation, Toledo, Ohio, a corporation of (Phio Filed Feb. 1, 1960, Ser. No. 6,000 4 Claims. (Cl. 192127) This invention relates generally to printing apparatus, and more particularly to label or ticket strip supply mechanism for printers of the type shown in copending U.S. application Serial No. 791,728 filed February 6, 1959, in the names of C. E. Adler and F. C. Carroll that is adapted to print and issue labels, tickets, or the like.

The object of the invention is to provide simple means for warning when the supply of label or ticket strip reaches a first predetermined minimum length and for automatically interrupting the operation of the printer when such supply reaches a second predetermined minimum length.

This and more specific objects and advantages are apparent from the following description of a preferred embodiment of the invention.

According to a specific embodiment of the invention, the printer which is shown in the foregoing U.S. application Serial No. 791,728 is provided with a pair of limit switches spaced along its label chute each having its actuator normally operatively maintained in sensing engagement with the label or ticket strip in the chute. One of the switches is so spaced from the printing station that when the supply of labels or tickets in the printer is down to about seven, i.e., substantially exhausted, the last one of such labels or tickets passes by such switch and the switch operates closing a circuit to a warning light. The other one of the switches is so spaced from the printing station that when the supply of labels or tickets in the printer is down to about four, i.e., exhausted, the last one of such labels passes by such switch and the switch operates opening a circuit to the electrically operated drive means for the printer to stop the printer.

The limit switches provide an exceedingly simple means for warning when the supply of label or ticket strip is substantially exhausted and for automatically stopping the printer when such supply is exhausted and features sensing of the label strip after it is unrolled from a supply roll. This is in contrast to prior complicated mechanical devices for sensing the near end of a label or ticket roll which operate on the rolls themselves. Such prior devices, since they operate on the rolls, have an accuracy which is a function of the consistency of the diameters of the rolls and must be removed in order to replace the rolls. Hence, such prior devices are expensive, apt to get out of order, inaccurate, and are in the way when rolls are replaced.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

PEG. I is a fragmentary vertical sectional View of label or ticket strip feeding means corresponding to FIG. VII in the foregoing US. application Serial No. 791,728 and incorporating the label or ticket exhaustion indicating means and the means for automatically stopping the printer upon exhaustion of the label or ticket strip of the invention; and

FIG. II is an electrical wiring diagram showing the electrical operation of such label or ticket exhaustion indicating means and such means for automatically stopping the printer.

These specific figures and the accompanying description are intended merely to illustrate the invention but not to impose limitations on the claims.

The printer which is shown in the foregoing US.

3,071,229 Patented Jan. 1, 1963 application Serial No. 791,728 intermittently advances, prints, and cuts off successive portions, such as tickets, labels, or the like, from a continuous strip 1 of such portions. The several working components of the printer are driven by means of a main drive shaft 2 which is connected through a clutch 3 and a shaft 4 to a continuously running motor 5. The clutch 3 is an ordinary onerevolution clutch which so operatively connects the main drive shaft 2 to the continuously turning shaft 4 that the drive shaft 2 is turned one revolution for each printing cycle, the clutch being controlled or operated by a solenoid 6 the energization of which makes the clutch operatively connect the shafts 2 and 4 so that they turn .as one and the deenergization of which allows the clutch to slip. The main drive shaft 2 corresponds to the main drive shaft 26 shown in the foregoing US. application Serial No. 791,728. The exact nature of the drive means for turning the main drive shaft 2 is not critical for the purposes of the invention. For example, the clutch 3 and its solenoid 6 could be eliminated and the motor 5 directly connected to the drive shaft 2, the motor in such case being connected in the circuit shown in FIG. II in place of the solenoid. This arrangement would result in an operation of sl wer speed, since a motor requires time to reach top speed. For a clear understanding of the structure and function of the apparatus of the invention it is necessary only to know that deenergization of the solenoid 6 or of the motor 5 paralyzes the drive means which stops operation of the printer.

The main drive shaft 2 is operatively connected as shown in the foregoing U.S. application Serial No. 791,728 to a shaft 7 which is the drive shaft for mechanism for feeding the label strip 1 into a printing station 8; this mechanism includes a supply roll, which is not shown but which is shown and described in copending US. application Serial No. 761,622 filed September 17, 1958, in the name of F. G. Carroll, now abandoned, that feeds the label strip into a chute 9, as indicated by the straight arrow in FIG. I, which is attached to the lower side of a frame member 10 and which has registering openings 11 in its upper and lower walls which are juxtaposed to and in registry with an opening 12 in the frame member 10. The label strip 1 is engaged for feeding by a driven pressure roller 13 which extends through the openings 11 and 12 and which cooperates with a driving cam 14 secured on the shaft 7. Rotation of the driving cam 14- in the direction indicated by the curved arrow in FIG. 1, during the interval while an outer portion 15 of the cam is in pressure engagement with the label strip 1 and the roller 13, drives the label strip 1 toward the printing station 8.

The driven roller 13 is journalled in and between spaced arms 16, only one of which is shown, which are pivoted on an axle 17 that is supported between a pair of angle brackets 18, only one of which is shown, on top of the frame member 10 and is positioned vertically for adjustment of the pressure on the feed cam 14 by means of an adjustment screw 19 that is threaded into the top of the frame member 10 and that is connected to the arms 16 by means of a bar 20 extending therebetween. The bar 20 is clamped in adjusted position between the shoulder on the head of the adjustment screw 19 and a nut 21 threaded on the screw.

In order to prevent unexpected running-out of the label strip 1, electrically operated strip exhaustion warning means is provided; the warning means includes a snapaction, normally closed limit switch 22 which is hung by means of a bracket 23 from the underneath side of the frame member 10 and which has its actuator 24 normally operatively maintained in sensing engagement with the label strip in the chute 9, the chute 9 defining a pair of registering openings 25 in which the acutator 24 operates, i.e., the label strip 1 operates the switch 22 holding the normally closed switch open. The limit switch 22 is so spaced from the printing station 8 that when the supply of labels in the printer is down to about seven, i.e., substantially exhausted, the last one of such labels passes by such switch and the normally closed switch contacts 26 of switch 22 close, i.e., absence of the label strip 1 at the switch actuator 24 causes operation of the switch 22. The contacts 26 are connected in a lead 27 which receives current from a lead 28 that is connected to a suitable source. Closing of the contacts 26 completes a circuit to a lamp 29, current flowing through the lamp 29 and a lead 30 to the other side of the line. The lighting of the lamp 29 warns the operator that operation of the printer should be halted and a new supply of label strip provided. Instead of the lamp 2), a bell or any other electrical indicator could be utilized.

Should the operator fail to heed the signal from the warning means, the printer automatically is stopped shortly thereafter. A snap-aotion, normally open limit witch 31 is located on top of the frame member adjacent the registered openings Ill and 12 in the chute 9 and in the frame member 10, respectively. The switch 31 has its actuator 32 normally operatively maintained in sensing engagement with the label strip 1 in the chute 9, the actuator 32 operating in such openings 11 and 12, ie., the label strip It operates the switch 31 holding the normally open switch closed. The limit switch 31 is so spaced from the printing station 8 that when the supply of labels in the printer is down to about four the last one of such labels passes by such switch and the normally open switch contacts 33 of switch 31 open, i.e., absence of the label strip 1 at the switch actuator 32 causes oper ation of the switch 31. The label supply is considered exhausted when the supply is down to about four because the last one of such labels is advanced beyond the feed cam 14 and no more labels can be fed into the printing station 8 even through several labels still remain in the chute 9. The contacts 33 are connected in a lead 34 which receives current from the lead 28. Opening of the contacts 33 breaks a circuit to the solenoid 6 the deenergization of which paralyzes the drive means for the printer which stops operation of the printer as hereinbefore described. The length of the label strip 1 when the supply of labels is substantially exhausted is defined as a first predetermined minimum length and the length of the label strip 1 when the supply of labels is exhausted is defined as a second predetermined minimum length.

The limit switches 22 and 31 provide an exceedingly simple means for warning when the supply of label strip is substantially exhausted and for automatically stopping the printer when such supply is exhausted and features sensing of the label strip after it is unrolled from a supply roll. Hence, the sensing accuracy is independent of supply roll diameters and there is nothing to obstruct replacement of the supply roll. The warning and stopping means are of low cost, not apt to get out of order, accurate, and are not in the Way when supply rolls are replaced.

The embodiment of the invention herein shown and described is to be regarded as illustrative only and it is to be understood that the invention is susceptible to variation, modification and change within the spirit and scope of the subjoined claims.

Having described the invention, I claim:

1. In a machine for printing at a printing station on successive portions of a continuous strip of such portions,

r in combination, drive means for operating the machine,

electrically operated strip exhaustion warning means, first switch means sensing the strip for actuating the warning means when the length of the strip reaches a first predetermined minimum, and second switch means sensing the strip for paralyzing the drive means when the length of the strip reaches a second predetermined minimum, the first switch means being more remote from the printing station than the second switch means whereby the warning means is actuated before the drive means is paralyzed to prevent unexpected running-out of the strip.

2. A combination according to claim 1 wherein the drive means includes a clutch and electrical means for actuating the clutch and the second switch means controls the electrical means for paralyzing the drive means when the length of the strip reaches the second predetermined minimum.

3. A combination according to claim 2 wherein the first switch means is in circuit with the warning means for closing the circuit to the warning means to actuate the warning means when the length of the strip reaches the first predetermined minimum and the second switch means is in circuit with the electrical means for opening the circuit to the electrical means to paralyze the drive means when the length of the strip reaches the second predetermined minimum.

4. A combination according to claim 1 wherein the first and second switch means each includes a switch actuator so operatively maintained in engagement with the strip that absence of the strip at the actuators causes operation of the switch means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,071,608 Dear et a1 Aug. 26, 1913 1,921,217 Coghfll Aug. 8, 1933 1,988,255 Soons Jan. 15, 1935 2,071,941 Flaws Feb. 23, 1937 2,313,888 Otis Mar. 16, 1943 2,679,307 Kock May 25, 1954 

1. IN A MACHINE FOR PRINTING AT A PRINTING STATION ON SUCCESSIVE PORTIONS OF A CONTINUOUS STRIP OF SUCH PORTIONS, IN COMBINATION, DRIVE MEANS FOR OPERATING THE MACHINE, ELECTRICALLY OPERATED STRIP EXHAUSTION WARNING MEANS, FIRST SWITCH MEANS SENSING THE STRIP FOR ACTUATING THE WARNING MEANS WHEN THE LENGTH OF THE STRIP REACHES A FIRST PREDETERMINED MINIMUM, AND SECOND SWITCH MEANS SENSING THE STRIP FOR PARALYZING THE DRIVE MEANS WHEN THE LENGTH 